Know Your Money with Bronwyn Waner and Craig Finch

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Prices go up, needs don’t pause. We open with why Discovery Health deferred contribution increases from January to April, putting relief back into members’ budgets, and then get straight into what families care about most: affordable everyday care without nasty surprises. Aldu from Discovery Health Medical Scheme joins us to unpack the Smart Saver Series, a new plan range built for young families who visit GPs, dentists, and optometrists more than they visit specialists, and who want predictable costs when life happens.

We break down the two options—Essential Smart Saver and Classic Smart Saver—so you can see exactly where they differ. Essential funds in-hospital specialists at 100% of the Discovery Health Rate, while Classic goes up to 200%, a key edge if you want more specialist latitude. Both plans use the Smart Hospital and Smart GP networks for elective care, with emergency access at any facility. The real win is day-to-day value: network GP visits with low fixed copays (R75 on Classic, R130 on Essential) and unlimited access, plus one annual dental and optometry check per beneficiary at those same small copays. Add an OTC allowance, risk-funded scripts on Classic, and you’ve got routine costs under control.

We also spotlight features that speak directly to modern family life. A built-in contraceptive benefit supports proactive health and budgeting. A kids’ injury benefit reduces the stress of a casualty visit with a low copay and freedom to use the nearest hospital. Then there’s the savings waterfall: risk-funded benefits first, the Personal Health Fund tied to health engagement next, and finally your Medical Savings Account, which carries over year to year. That structure protects your pocket for those less frequent but pricier needs like ENT, gynae, or orthopaedic consults, while still letting you use savings for any provider when you choose.

If you’re weighing a plan change before April or trying to balance cost with real-world use, this walkthrough gives you clear, practical guidance to decide. Subscribe for more money-smart health cover insights, share this with a friend who’s comparing options, and leave a review to tell us which Smart Saver feature matters most to you.

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Contact Chantelle: 

[email protected]

https://ssdebtcounsellors.co.za/

071 641 8088

Feeling crushed by bills and constant calls from creditors? We sit down with Chantelle, a seasoned debt counsellor, to map a clear path from panic to plan. She explains how debt review can pause the noise, replace many chaotic payments with one structured instalment, and offer legal protection so you can run your home without fear. We dig into the mechanics: negotiating lower interest rates, adjusting terms without hiding costs, and making sure a court-approved budget leaves room for essentials like food, transport, and school needs.

We’re candid about the trade-offs. Under debt review, you cannot take on new credit—an intentional reset that pushes you to live on cash and rebuild healthy habits. Chantelle breaks the myth that you can choose which accounts go in; it’s all or nothing to seal the leaks and end the cycle. We also talk timelines: while some terms extend, consistent payments and reduced interest can still shorten your overall journey compared to revolving debt that never ends.

Not everyone needs formal counselling, and that honesty matters. Chantelle often helps people spot simpler moves: cutting unused subscriptions, downgrading cover, renegotiating a stubborn store card, or stretching a term with a creditor. The initial assessment is free, and fees only apply if you proceed with review, built into your monthly instalment. If you’re overwhelmed, start by gathering every statement, listing debit orders, and being frank about real household costs. From there, a plan emerges—steady, practical, and free of shame.

We close with encouragement and next steps for South Africans searching for debt relief, credit repair, and financial stability. Subscribe for more conversations that turn money stress into clear actions, and share this episode with someone who needs a lifeline today. If it helped you, leave a review and tell us your biggest question about starting the process.

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Contact Chantelle: 

 [email protected]

https://ssdebtcounsellors.co.za/

071 641 8088

Feeling cornered by debt even though you’re working hard? We sit down with Chantelle from S&S Debt Counseling to unpack a proven, legal way to reset your repayments under South Africa’s National Credit Act. Together we walk through how debt counselling protects you from aggressive collections, restructures instalments to what you can truly afford, and builds a simple single payment that actually shrinks balances.

We start with the real reasons people become over indebted: overtime cuts, job changes, and rising living costs that push budgets past breaking point. Chantelle explains the first signs creditors see, the Section 86 notice, and why acting within days can pause legal action. From there, we map the full assessment of your household budget, show how negotiators reduce instalments and often interest, and explain how a court order locks in the plan so banks must cooperate.

The conversation gets practical. You’ll hear a clear example of turning a R10,000 surplus into a structured repayment that covers all accounts. We unpack why the snowball method frees you faster by closing small debts first and rolling those payments forward. We also dive into behavioural shifts: no new credit while under review, cutting up cards to end the swipe cycle, and using a semi-cash system to rebuild control. With regulated Payment Distribution Agencies handling money flows and transparent statements for you and creditors, the process stays clean and accountable. We close with alternatives like bank rearrangements, the risks they carry, and why legal protection often makes the difference between constant stress and steady progress.

If debt has you feeling stuck, this conversation offers a map, a shield, and a plan. Subscribe, share with someone who needs hope, and leave a quick review telling us the one question you still have about debt review so we can answer it next time.

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We turn the post‑holiday credit shock into a practical plan: shrink the limit, build cash buckets and automate clean pay‑offs. We talk through the psychology of red balances, the banks’ incentives and how to set boundaries that stick.

• why red numbers trigger panic and overspending
• reducing the credit limit in steps with no score penalty
• splitting bonuses between pay‑down and a cash bucket
• using buckets for keeping, saving and giving
• automating monthly settlement and limit reductions
• saying no to bank‑pushed limit increases
• using accountability with a planner or coach
• building an emergency fund outside the card

Reach out if you have more questions on that or pop us a message in the chat

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We dig into smart financial year-end moves for South African taxpayers, focusing on topping up tax-free savings and retirement annuities before the February cutoff. We show how to turn deductions and compounding into a reliable future income stream.

• why the February deadline matters for SARS allowances
• using TFSA for long-term growth, not short-term cash
• the R36,000 annual and R500,000 lifetime TFSA limits
• leaving TFSA invested after reaching the cap
• planning for tax-free TFSA income in retirement
• how RA deductions reduce taxable income now
• the value of RA lock-in to protect compounding
• recycling tax refunds back into TFSA or RA
• pairing RA and TFSA to manage retirement tax

Go and see your financial planners and discuss those two products and see how you can top it up or or adjust your debit orders and make sure it's beneficial for the long term

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What happens when a business partnership faces an unexpected crisis? Much like a marriage contract that's never reviewed until divorce looms, poorly structured business agreements can lead to catastrophic financial consequences when partners die or become disabled.
 
 Sean from BrightRock delivers powerful insights into business assurance solutions that truly protect what entrepreneurs build. He highlights how traditional insurance approaches often miss the mark by charging business owners for lifetime coverage when their needs may be temporary. Through BrightRock's needs-matched approach, businesses can secure precisely the protection required for contingent liabilities, buy-and-sell agreements, and key person insurance—without paying for unnecessary coverage.
 
 The podcast reveals game-changing features like underwriting in bands of R10 million, allowing growing businesses to access significant additional coverage without further medical underwriting. This proves invaluable as businesses expand and owners develop health conditions that might otherwise make new coverage impossible to obtain. Sean emphasizes that premiums themselves become assets that can be repurposed when original needs expire, embodying BrightRock's three pillars of efficiency, flexibility, and certainty.
 
 Perhaps most importantly, Sean warns against the dangers of generic online agreements, sharing a personal divorce story that underscores why proper legal documentation matters. "Spend money on getting this right," he advises, explaining how BrightRock partners with specialised attorneys to ensure comprehensive protection. In today's world of information overload, qualified financial advisors become increasingly valuable navigators through complex business protection decisions. The episode serves as a crucial reminder that successful entrepreneurs must look beyond immediate concerns to establish proper safeguards for their business futures.

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What happens to your children's education if you're no longer able to provide for them? Sean Hanlon, Executive Director of BrightRock, returns to Know Your Money to tackle this critical question with hosts Bronwyn Waner and Craig Finch.
 
 The conversation delves into BrightRock's unique Child Care Benefit, challenging conventional thinking about educational protection. Rather than offering a traditional lump sum payment that statistics show disappears within just 36 months on average, BrightRock provides an annuitized income that continues until a child reaches age 24. What makes this approach revolutionary is that it's not contingent on school attendance, allowing families flexibility if circumstances change after a parent's death or disability.
 
 Hanlon shares personal insights as a father of four, explaining how he structured his own family's protection through a trust that owns his policy. This arrangement ensures each child receives a guaranteed monthly amount with specific conditions attached. The benefit also addresses the reality of educational inflation, with some private schools increasing fees by approximately 12.5% annually – far outpacing standard inflation indexes.
 
 At its core, the Child Care Benefit represents a philosophical shift in how we think about protecting our children's futures. As Hanlon poignantly observes, "What does money really give you? It gives you choice." By focusing on preserving choices rather than simply covering educational expenses, BrightRock's approach offers a more comprehensive safety net for families facing life's uncertainties.
 
 Want to learn more about innovative financial protection strategies for your family? Subscribe to Know Your Money through our website at www.growthfp.co.za and join the conversation about securing your children's financial future.

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What if your money plan was designed for every version of you, not just the one paying bills today? We take a practical, human look at life’s moving parts—student, first job, partner, parent, homeowner, and future retiree—and map out how to fund each stage without feeling overwhelmed. The goal isn’t a perfect spreadsheet; it’s a calm system that protects your income, supports your people, and builds the freedom to choose work you love.

We start with foundations that unlock resilience: income protection as the engine of your plan, medical aid you can actually use, and an early retirement contribution that leverages compounding for decades. From there, we add bricks as life expands—choosing the right marital property regime before the wedding day, setting life cover to match real obligations, and planning for children’s education without starving your own future. Along the way we tackle the hard but necessary steps people avoid, like drafting a valid will, updating beneficiaries, and preparing for illness or loss so a single blow doesn’t derail years of progress.

Retirement gets a reframing too. Instead of waiting for a date on a calendar, we aim for financial independence, where invested assets can fund your life well before 65. That means capturing salary increases into savings, taming lifestyle creep, and building buffers that turn surprises into detours, not disasters. You’ll hear how to balance living well now with protecting the next version of you, and why a seasoned planner can speed up every transition you’ll face for the first time.

Ready to fund the self you haven’t met yet? Follow the show, share this episode with someone starting a new chapter, and leave a review to help more people build calm, confident money plans that grow with their lives.

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Ever feel like more than one voice is making your money choices? We dive into a simple but powerful idea: your financial life is shaped by internal parts—the spender who wants joy, the saver who wants safety, the earner who chases security, and specialised roles like the workhorse that ties worth to output or the proud one that resists help. By naming these voices and giving each a role, you turn inner conflict into a practical plan.

We unpack how the flourish blueprint maps these parts to a wheel of wealth so every rand has a purpose. You’ll hear how a dominant workhorse can lead to burnout and lopsided plans, and why the proud part can push people to blow windfalls because receiving feels uncomfortable. We share a windfall protocol for bonuses, inheritances, and unexpected gains that channels money into long-term investments, near-term goals, security buffers, and guilt-free fun. You’ll learn how a tiny “joy budget” prevents blowouts, why automation protects your future self, and how boundaries at work help the earner without sacrificing family.

To find your default script, we ask one revealing question: what is your first money memory? Whether your early imprint was spending, saving, or earning, that story still guides your wallet today. We show how to balance all three so you enjoy life now, protect tomorrow, and earn with purpose. The goal is not to silence any voice but to create a steady rhythm where each part speaks and is heard. If you’re ready to turn money stress into a clear plan that fits your whole life, you’ll leave with steps you can use today.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s navigating a bonus or windfall, and leave a review with your first money memory—we’d love to hear which voice is loudest for you.

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Ever feel like life keeps bumping along on a jagged wheel—good career, shaky health, no time for friends, and money always tight? We unpack a practical way to smooth the ride by pairing the Wheel of Life with the Wheel of Wealth, showing how small, planned moves can unlock time, reduce stress, and fund what matters most. Instead of chasing motivation, we map honest scores across career, health, fitness, fun, community, family, friends, love, and learning, then turn those insights into non‑negotiable diary “rocks” that actually happen.

From there, we zoom into money as seven relationships: receiving income from assets, active vs passive earning, conscious spending, saving for named goals, giving with intention, and steady growth through learning. You’ll hear how active earning often blocks rest and recreation, why passive income and side projects can create breathing space, and how to direct cash toward priorities like a weekly date night or a basic gym plan without derailing the budget. The guiding principle is simple and liberating: every rand needs a plan. When each rand has a job, impulse fades, goals get funded, and your calendar reflects your values.

We keep it practical with examples you can copy this week: set three immovable health sessions, budget a modest monthly braai to nurture friendships, allocate a course fee and study hour to boost earning power, and start a small “fun and recreation” pot so joy isn’t an afterthought. The goal isn’t a perfect circle; it’s a wheel smooth enough to roll. Subscribe for more real‑world money tips, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a quick review telling us which spoke you’ll improve first.

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